Florida Father Discovers Daughter Alive After Birth Deception
In a startling revelation, Florida resident Brandon Marteliz discovered that his daughter, whom he was told had died at birth, is actually alive. Marteliz was informed by the mother of his child that their daughter, Amiya, had succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome shortly after her birth in January 2022. However, this information was false. In reality, Amiya had survived childbirth, and a day after giving birth, the mother put Amiya up for adoption without Marteliz’s knowledge or consent.
Marteliz, who had prepared for his daughter’s arrival by purchasing baby toys, furniture, and clothes, expressed his devastation upon learning the truth. Nearly three weeks after being told of his daughter’s supposed death, he received text messages from the mother indicating that Amiya was alive.
The situation came to light when a Child Protective Services agent contacted Marteliz, informing him that his newborn was alive and in the care of an adoption agency. The agency, however, claimed that Marteliz couldn’t gain custody of Amiya, arguing that he hadn’t provided sufficient financial support during the pregnancy and birth, and that the mother’s consent for adoption was valid since they were not married, he wasn’t on the birth certificate, and was not registered on the state’s paternity registry.
In October, a judge ruled in favor of the adoption, stating that Marteliz had not provided any financial support to the child, thus not requiring the mother’s consent for the adoption. Marteliz and his attorney, David Hurvitz, are now advocating for legal reforms, highlighting the difficulties faced by fathers in similar situations and calling for more robust paternal rights.
This case highlights the complexities surrounding paternal rights, consent in adoption processes, and the need for legal reforms to protect the rights of all parties involved, especially in cases where misinformation and lack of communication profoundly impact the lives of children and parents.
